The Penn's Grove record., 1887-09-24

man. but MS race Ola not D6LOkeu any
very great grief at the intelligence.
A little more conversation passed
between the Two men and then they
parted, Thompson giving his wealthy
friend his new address. and the latter
assuring him that he would do his best
to find a berth for "Mr. Tom," and
that he would write or call as Don as
he had any good news TO communicate.
The old man went home inclined to
think that the banker was, after all,
"a good sort, and congratulsting him
self on having found a frleEd in his
time of need.
A week had hardly elapsed from the
time of this fortunate meeting, when
the banker presented himself at No. SO
Battenberg Terrace, Upper Holloway.
Kate's cheeks flushed as she gave him
her hand, and the German thought
land rightly that she looked quite as
beautiful in her cheap merino frock
and imitation lace collar as she had
done in an expensive costume in the
days of her fathers prosperity.
He said very little to her. turning
his attention chiefly to her father. He
was the bearer of good news He had
used his influence successfully with a
gentlemen whom he knew-a director
of an Indian Tea Company-aud he
was able to offer Tom a post on a tea
plantation in India. 1t was not very
much, but better than nothing. perhaps
and 1t was a beginning. OF course
the offer was gratefully accepted on be-
half of the young man, who happened
to be out that evening; and after a
somewhat prolonged stay in the shabby
little sitting-room. the banker took his
departure. There was something in his
manner, composed as it was, as he shook
hands with Kate, that told the girl that
he had not forgotten the events OF the
previous year-that he was still in
heart her loveFs
After this ar. Brandt became a
pretty frequent visitor at Battenberg
Terrace, and in various ways he con-
trlved to make himself agreeable to the
disconsolate family. Thompson hap
pened to be a member Of the Honorable
Company of Buckle Makers. A friend
OF Brandt's, who vas a master Buckle
Maker. represented his case to the
board, and, after a little delay. the de-
cayed merchant found himself a
brother-pensioner of the company, with
an annuity of fifty guineas. Several
times it happened that dramatic critics,
or managers, friends Of MIR. Brandt,
presented him with box tickets tor
various theatres, and on these occasions
Mr.. Brandt always insisted that his
friends the Thompsons should be pres
emit at the entertainment. Rates little
sisters were made happy by Christmas
presents far exceeding their utmost
expectations.
BY degrees the German regained a
friendly footing IN the family circle,
and yet he could not be SURF that Kate
regarded him with more favor than she
Auerly did, She was always polite
'De, but always cold and distant.
cerb of this, the German determined
Ky no longer. He was madly In
love with her-a hundred times more
in love than he had been when he had
proposed to her the first time. And
he thought that in spite Of the girls
evident GOODNESS he had now good pros
poets of success.
This time he said nothing to her
father. He watched his opportunity
when the old man was out Of the way,
and pleaded his cause earnestly, but
respectfully enough. He said nothing
about the strength of his passion; he
did not refer in any way to his previous
offer. Nor did he allude to the benefits
he had conferred upon the family. He
hunted that he could offer her a home
that. Wfi,ld be more than comfortable,
ss.iiu .ns by accepting him she would
be acting the part of a good daughter
and securing her sisters future.
Kate heard him to the end, looking
him straight in the face all the time.
The German did not like that straight
forward gaze; it looked as If the girl
had not forgotten the past, and meant
to reject him, but he bore it unfinch.
ingly and waited for his answer.
At length it came-she accepted
himl
The German could hardly suppress a
cry of e~xultatlon as he sprang to his
feet and approached the beautiful girl
who had just promised to be his wife.
eHush, do sit down, MI. Brandt"
she said, rising and r%etreating to the
door. ~ hear papa coming.
Mr.. Thompson did, in fact, come in
at that moment, and Kate escaped to
her bedroom, leaving her lover TO
tell the news to her father.
The banker left Battenberg Terrace
that evening III a whlrl of excitement
and savage delight. His triumph was
complete. That lovely form, that
peerless creature, was to be his own.
at last, at last he had %triumphed. For
this he had ruined her father, brought
tIo faratl7 An pnuarfu ond unpaurad in 1
the character of its benefactor. And
now the prize was within his grasp.
The Germans old friends hardly
knew HIM for the next six weeks. He
rushed into all sorts of extrayagauces.
lie took a house in Mayfair. and fur
nished II from top to bottom, engaged
servants (every one Of them natives of
the F~atherland), laid in a stock of wine,
and ordered the most magnificent
breakfast that a London confectioner
could provide.
Very little of this p~rofusion found
its way to Battenberg Terrace. Time
enough for that, thought Herr Brandt,
when the girl was his wife; land little
enough luxury will she have even them"
he said to himself. '.if she doesn't see
fit to mend her manners.n Kate was,
indeed, al cold to him as ever she had
been, and took no pains to conceal from
her lover the fact that she looked on
herself as a lamb led to the slaughter.
The fatal day arrived. All Mr..
Brandt's friends and acquaintance in
London, and a good many whose ac-
quaintances hip with him was OF rather
a slender character, we're asked to the
wedding. He vas anxious to show his
beautiful bride to the whole world. AS
for Mr., Thompson's relations, the
banker did not trouble himself to in
quire about them-the BRIDES family
were paupers. 1t did not matter
whether any of them were present or
not. On the eve Of the wedding day,
however, a magnificent bridal dress,
veil and wreath, and a set of pearls,
arrived at Battenberg Terrace, sent by
the bridegroom, that his wife might
appear In public suitably apparelled.
The morning came. The marriage